Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

nerve pain!?

I'm getting nerve pain in my upper back, where I have some scoliosis with associated pain in my knees and and elbows!? I've experienced this off and on for a number of years now and the only thing I can figure is that maybe I've got some disc damage. I did almost break my back when i was young in a high jump accident where I landed on my head! This most likely made my scoliosis worse but I fortunately didn't experience any adverse affects from it until a few years ago when this 'nerve pain' started coming on, (that was in my 40's and I'm now in my 50's). Does this make any sense yo anyone and if so any ideas what might be the best approach for diagnosis or treatment!?I've been to a doctor about it several years ago but he didn't/couldn't give me any definite answers!?

3 Replies:

Orthopedic docs work with scoli patients and neurologists work with nerve pain. Personally I'd go to the orthopod who specializes in scoli first to see if there is anything new in the treatment of scoliosis.

You are most likely getting the upper back pain as a referred pain from the mid to lower neck . The neck is the area that would be hurt from landing on your head. There is probably disc damage, as you state . You are not going to be able to change an existing scoliosis that has been there awhile. They only put harrington rods into the spine in severe cases. I would suggest a full set of new X rays of the C spine, and maybe an MRI and then proceed to have a good D.C. give gentle specific adjustments to the mal-alligned regions of the neck and upper back. Along with some light manual distraction also, this could be of real benefit. It could be that just a little well placed manual treatment would give you relief. Good luck.

I am so happy you were not seriously injured from the jumping accident. Some people end up with spinal cord injuries, which is quite tragic. The accident may have set you up for some degenerative disc disease. MRI's are expensive (I had one done on my whole spine and the co-pay was almost a thousand dollars), but they can show nerve damage pretty well.It is probably a good idea to see your doctor again and let him/her decide what the best imaging studies would be.I am so sorry you are in pain. I hope you get diagnosed correctly and treated (if possible) soon.Best Wishes.